Apparatus



July 10, 1928.

` H. OSTROVSKY APPARATUS FOR PBOHOTING FLEXIBILITY OF THE JOINTS 0F THE HANDS July 10, 1928.

H. OSTROVSK'Y APPARATUS FOR PROMOTING FIJEXIBIIITY OF THE JOINTS OF THE HANDS Filed May l'f 192? s sheets-sheet 2 INVENTR H Oat l ATTORNEY Y July lo, 192s. 1,676,664

H. OSTROVSKY APPARATUS FOR PROMOTING FLEXIBILITY OF THE JOINTS OF THE HANDS Filed May 17, 1927 v 6 Sheets-Sheet 3.

Patented July 1U, 192.8.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY OSTROVSKY, OF BRYN ATHYN, PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUS FOR PROMOTING FLEXIBTLITY OF THE JOIN'IS OF THE HANDS.

Application filed May 17,

'My invention consists in new and useful improvements in apinnatus ttor use by .musicians in promoting the flexibility ol the joints, and stretching the muscles and ligaments ot the hands.

lt is the object of my invention to provide a device of the above character which will atleet practically every joint and muscle ol the hands and lingers by a plurality oit dill'erent operations and positions ol the various elements comprising the apparatus.

It is a further object of my invention to produce a linger exercisingl device which will improve the circulation through the hands and fingers.

lilith the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention consists in the novel features hereinafter described in detail, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

.'lelerring to the drawing-1 in wliiel numerals of like character designate similar parts throughout the several views,

Fig. 1 :is a plan view of the alviparatus, showing the oscillating plates with the tinger gripping members in dotted lines mounted thereon.

Fig. is a view in side elevation, showing the bracket arrangement for supporting the wrist engaging yoke, partly broken away.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. is a sectional view ot one end ot the device, showing the plates in different positions.

Fig. 6 is a lateral cross sect-ion showing the bracket adjuster and plate oscillating gear. A

Figs. T and 8 and f) are pl an. sectional and end views respectively, ot the operating 4;, lever.

F las.

gli;

g. 10 and 1l are plan und sectional views, respectively, of the wrist engaging yoke, showing the cushion in place.

Fig. 12 is a view of the cushion adapted su to be secured in said yoke.

Fig. 13 is a plan view ot a finger gripping member.

1927. Serial No. 192,112.

Fig. 11i is a sectional view o'l' the plate engaging portion of said member.

Fig. 15 is a section taken at right angles to Fig. 13. i

Fig. 115 is a longitudinal section of the ringer gripping member, showing the loop tightening means, and

Fig. 17 is a detail sectional View of the auxiliary tightening means.

Figs. 1S, 19 and 2O show modifications of the adjustable yoke member.

1n the drawings, 1 represents the main body oi.: the device which is in the forni ot a. rectangular box having bottom, end and side walls.V 2 represents a plate member bent down along its side edges, which bent down portions are provided with bars 3 hav ing downwardly extending teeth along the lower edges thereof, and adapted to be operatively engaged by a toothed gear l on the inner end ot' the operating knob 5 which is keyed on the outer end ot' a rotating shaft 6, mounted transversely olf the body 1 in apertures in the side walls thereof, see Fig.

designates pawl members pivotally mounted on the side walls of the body, ad jacent the operating knobs 5, and adapted to engage the teeth of the gear member fl, when it is desired to retain the oscillating plate 2 in a fixed position.

(lpposite the oscillating plaie 2, and hinged at the other end ot' the body pori tion, is a plate 8 adapted to be swung upwardly and back, and retained in predetermined pesitions as will be hereinafter described.

In each ot the plates 2 and 8, I provide apertures 9, and key slots 10 adapted to receive the lugs on. the linger gripping members, hereinafter referred to more in detail.

Beneath the hinged plate 8, and within the side ialls ot' the body 1, I provide another hinged plate 11, the i'ree end ol which normally rests upon stops 12 secured on the inner iaees of said side walls. This plate is bent downwardly at each end, forming are-shaped 'flanges 13 adapted to register with, and engage rollers 14 along the inner edge of plate 2, when said plate 11 is raised upwardly on its pivot, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, whereby when said plate 2 is oscillated, on the body 1, the hinged plate 1l will be caused to reeiproeule up and down therewith.

l5 represents :i suliisl'i'iiitizilly U-shnped yoke having :in angulnrly disposed horizon- Lul linee'. slidnbly iiiounted in brackets lli, und retained in pluee by eorere l. Along` the outer edge oll ezieh leg ot' the yoke l5, l providx :i series ol2 .'zitehet teeth i8 iidiipted to be engaged by pnwlii Ail), iuounted in :Suid hi'aekete, whereby when sind yoke ie pushed downiizirdly in the binekelel lli, against the teneioii ol' Springs 20, Suid yoke inziy be retained .in the desired position. By ineens oty the lever 2l, the puwl inziy be eeueed to dieengzige the ratchet teeth 18, allowing the springe E() to return seid yoke to its upperinost position.

The angular ifnee el the yoke l5 is pro- -vided `with key slots 2&2, und threaded :iperturefi 23, the hitter beiiigjy adopted to reeeire Serene 2l: lor Slidzilily securing u plate in platee thereon. This plzite ie provided with apertures 2li adopted to register with the key slots in the ieee oit' the yoke, :ind

sioti-i QT, through which seid seifewe 2l; :in

seid plate Vin plnee. in order to iiuuiituin the plete 25 'in engaging position, l provide e Spring el ndiioted to pese to slidiibly retain rl on :i short ehii'l't 2S) secured to the yoke und engaging the bent end oli Suid pluto. Si() iepreeente :i wrist cushion hin/"ing,v eeeui'ed to its upper fuirflfnee :i plate 3l provided with lugs 32 hir-:ing enlarged houde, und udripted lo be passed through the key slots E22 in the tace ol the yoke l5, und t e ipertureev 2G in the Slide-ble platte 25, When the lutter ie pushed inwardly against the prei.

eure olI the sprii'ig L8. lt is obi'ioini that when the spring .isi i'elelzied, seid pliite will be towed oulii'z'irdif again, throwing the, upeiluiefi 2li out of uligninent with the key Slots v'he edges of Seid uperturef;y thtu'eh;v en igi ingr the luge 2L beneath Suid enlarged her/ide to i'etziin `eid eueliion in place on the yoke- :is elezii'ly Shown ii'i Fig. ll.

"illie bineketsv ll retiininc' the yoke l5, :ire pivotailly iiiouzited in the eide Willie of the body 'l on n ebelt und fire n'uide edjueh :ible by ineens oit u plurality ot apertures ndzipted to be ennegi'ed by n firing* nete-.ated plinigier 35, opirnted by :i knob 3:36. llt will thuisl be eeen that any deeired adjustment ot the boeition ot the yoke uniy be iufeoiiipljiohed by ii'ilfhdiuwinel tl e plunger 35 iliroin its engi'zigiiie' poiwition :ind :nving'iiipj the briekets 16 on the slizrlt il?) until the desired po on obtained.y zuid then filloningg rid plunger to engoge n new aperture.

:Si designate@ the linger gripping` ineinbere, ezieli oi" rfliieh eonsiehi ot "i innin body portion bent up ri'llf,Y et ite loiigitudiinl ixtreinitirs, one oi which bent up por out nloiuf il: edge in tl seid body, l seeui'e u 'linee plete 39 having n slot l0 therein. Pivotzilly mounted on this li'iiee pitite 39 ie a lerer Ill provided with a sieren' Slidzible in atr slot fh. in Said lever, :ind adopted to pz-iss through and register with Suid slot Ll0, the inner end of said screw being` threaded to engage apertures in plates lil .iiliin the body portion ot the ineniber "l" l-fl- ,reeeule n .fitrip ol canvas or other uitiihle inuteiial, the ende ol which are rreui'ed together between the plates 43 Withn uid body ineinber forming u loop 45 k, the longitudinal edge ot the ineinber .ii ,for reeeivingI the linger of the operator. lr6 repreeentsli :i linger support which ei;- tendi; Athrough the loop et, and is secured at its; outer extremities to the bent portions of the body ineiuber. lt will thus be eeen that when the lever iil ie swung downdly on its pivot, the screw Ll2 Will be d dor:nrczirdiy tl'ierewith through the L'ith wiiieh in turn. will cause the platee to ilrriw the ende oit the canvas Strip mriiiriidly, eziueifie loop to tighten :wound the linger oft the ope nto'r, the lug -Lli4 on L iid lerei, ei raging the ratchet teeth t ietnin :said loo) in Q'ri i in@ bosition. Y Y, o za in o .Y

i er to obtain :i more iniiiute :idjuet-l nient oi" the linger :in :iuxiliuiy lerer e8 piroted on the Screw ii-E2, :ind hurling itt one end, u Cain :irruiige- Llt) :idiipted to beur against n projeci on .ei-:iid innin handle 4l, whereby en Suid auxiliary handle ie swung downi y, the esiin #lll will engage the projec- (l.k sind eziusie the screw 42 to be 'forced downwardly tlii'ough slot 4t2, to flirt-her *j iten the loop This auxiliary handle .f' :ilc'o prorfifled with n ratchetarrangement l r retuining the sinne in the desired pori tion.

ine linger kg gripping ineinber 37 ie prorided i t ite etreinit5v opposite the loop with e. pziii oll luge .5l inoni'ited on plate whieh ifi bored eeiitrully thereof to receive a `gripping` loop, il provide iot ihu/t 53 on which if: ri'ilntalily mounted ti mini :n'rzing'einent The body portion of the liiuger l ipping ineinber is provide-Ll with :uei'tiireo 55, registering; with Said lugs 5l,

through which seid lugs nre adapted to d when the plete is ioreed down- 'iverdlff by the enin 5l, :iejn'iiisit the 'tension oll the eprinif: Ylor the purpose lieieinfi'l'ter deferibrd.

5T repreeentri en operzittine; lever herring;

one e thereof, :i pair et Spring' zietuiied e'iippi e* lingers and n stationery lug- 59,

irruerebj,r Seid lever in adopted in place ou the operating knob 5, said grippine; lin/ers 58 end lug,i 59 engaging the desired recessie-i GO in the periphery or' Said knob :ie e'lown in dotted lineei in Fig. 2. y (3l rep ,nte iin enr in nl with the iueiii t gripping' lil'llll:

inner edge of the plate Q tor the purpose hereinafter set forth.

The use and operation olf my device are as follows:

Vhen it is desired to stretch the web bctween the lingers, the two finger grippingl members 37 are locked in place` one on each of' the plates 2 and S by inserting the lugs 51 which are in the down position in the desired aperture 9, and key slot l() in said plate, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The fingers are then inserted one .in each loop 45, with the palm turned upwardly, and the lever 4:1 is swung downwardly on its pivot, tightening said loop around the finger in the manner heretofore described.

The operating lever 57, having been locked in position on the knob 60, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. Q, is then swung backward and forward with the free hand of the operator to oscillate the plate Q, the plate 8 and the finger grippingmembers locked thereon, remaining stationary.` It will thus be seen that as the plate 2 oscillates, the fingers of the operator will be drawn apart and the web between the same stretched.

Assuming that the operator desires to stretch the joints of his fingers. The linger gripping members 37 are removed from the plates, and the ear 61 of one of' the gripping members is hooked on to the hook member 62 on plate 2, the cam lever 54 on said gripping member having been turned to the position shown in Fig. 14 to retain the lugs 51 in retracted position, whereby the plano `[lat surface of the body portion oi said gripping member is presented to the upper surface of the plate 8.

The hand of the operator is then passed through the yoke 15 with the palm down, resting on the rounded edge ot the body 1, and the linger to be stretched is inserted in the gripping loop 45 which is then tightened thereon. In order to secure the wrist in the proper position, the yoke 15 with the wrist. cushion 30 in place thereon, is pressed downwardly in the brackets 16, and retained in the wrist engaging position by means of the awl and ratchet arrangement 18 and 19.

he operating lever 57 is then oscillated in the manner heretofore described7 which in turn causes the plate 9. to slide backwards and forwards on the body 1, and with it, the finger gripping member 37 which is tree to slide on the plate 8.

The fingers are then released from the gripping member 37, and the wrist from the yoke 15, by turning the lever 21 to disengage the pawl 19 from the ratchet teeth 18, the spring 2O causing said yoke to return to y its normal position.`

To flex the fingers backwardly and upwardly to stretch the ligaments of' the saine, the plate 8 is swung back on its pivot to the position shown in Fie. 2, and the hinged plate 11 is swung upwardly on its pivot, the knob 5 being turned in clock-wise direction, until the rollers 111 on the edge ot the plate 2 engage the arc-shaped flanges ot' said plate 11. The hand of the operator is then inserted through the yoke 15 with the palm resting down 'ardly on the upper surface of the plate 8, the fingers resting on the oscillating plate 11. The yoke 15 is then pressed downwardly as heretofore described, to secure the hand in place. Then the operating lever 57 is swung backwards, "and forwards, to oscillate the plate 2, the rollers 14 engaging the arc-shaped flanges on the plate 11 cause said plate to be oscillated on its pivots, bending the fingers upwardly,

rIhe plate S may likewise loe given a rotary oscillation on its hinges by means of the oscillating yokes 63 rotatably mounted in each of the brackets 16,` and operatively connected together for this purpose by means of a connecting yoke 64. This oscillation may be accomplished by placing the lever 57 through the medium of a squared hole 65 on the squared lug 66 of one of .said yokes 63, whereby when said lever 57 is swung backwards and forwards, the yokes 63 will be caused to oscillate, which in turn will raise and lower the plate 8 on its hinges.

It is obvious that numerous other exercising and liexing operations may be accomplished with my improved apparatus by merely changing the positions of the several elements comprising said apparatus.

In Figs. 18 to 20 inclusive, I have shown a modification oilE the bracket 16 and wrist engaging yoke 15, including a .slightly different ratchet arrangenient.

In this structure, the bracket 16 is inounted on a tube which surrounds the rotary shaft 33 and is provided with a slot 71 through which the operating lever 72 is adapted to `be inserted, said operatii'ig lever being secured to the shatt 33. On the outer end of the shaft 3S, I secure a pawl 73, adapted to register with a series of ratchet teeth 74. on the inner edo'e of a cut out por! tion 75 intermediate the side edges of the yoke 15. The pawl is retained in engaging position by a 'suitable spring SO. In this particular form oit the invention, the lower ends of the legs oi: the yoke 15 are bent out- `wardly at substantially right angles to form arms 76, provided-at their outer extremities with lugs 77. The cover 17 is modiiied to accommodate this structure by providing at the upper extremity of the inner wall thereof, a lug 78, adapted to engage the upper end of a coil spring 79, the lower end of which is secured to the lug 77 on the leg ot' said yoke, whereby said yoke is under a continuous upward pressure.

The operation of this modification is obvious. When the yoke 15 is pushed down wardly in the bracket 16, the pawl 7 3 enlll" VVVav'ino the ratchet teeth ffl will retain said g til '75 Y. 7

yoke in the desired position, and to release the pawl, the lever 72 is pushed downwardlv to rotate the shalt 33, thus diseno'ae'ine D CD D said paw] trom .said teeth.

From the loi'egoiiicfg,` it is believed. that the construction, operation and advantages ot the invention may be readily understood by those .skilled in the art, and l am aware that. changes may be made in the details disclosed without departing` lrom the spirit ot the invention as expressed in the al'iiieruled claims.

lli/That l claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: i

l. ,i-rpparatus for promotingA vflexibility ol' the joints oi" the hands, comprising* a main body, a, slidable plate mounted thereon, means tor imparting moif'einenttheretey a second lplate adjacent said slidable plate, finger gripping' members adapted to be locked in place on both et said plates, whereby when said slidable plate is oseillated on said body, the. lingers in said `gripping` niembers will be stretched.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim l. wherein said means for imparting movement to said slidable plate comprises a rack mounted on the edge of said plate adapted to be op eratively engaged by a pinion gear rotatably mounted in said main body, and a removable handle 'lor oscillating; said gear.

3. illprparatus :tor promoting tlexibility ot the .joints ol the hands. comprising;l a marin body, a slidable plate mounted thereon, means for imparting1 movement thereto, a

hinged plate adjacent said slidable plate,

and means for retaining the same in predeterniined positions with respect to said body, a second hinged plate beneath said last named plate having means lor operatively engaging said slidable plate, whereby when the latte is reciproeated longitudinally on said body, said second hinged plate will be caused to oseillate vertically on its hinges, and means 'For retaining a. hand in palm down position with the lingers resting; ou said oscillating plate.

fi. rtpparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said slidable plate is provided along one edge with rollers, saitL second hinged plate beine; provided with are shaped flanges ef;- tendinf; downwardly at right angles thereto. y'scent said rollers` whereby when said line plate is oscillaed on said body, said rollers will engaa'e said Hang/es and cause the plate supporting the same to reciprocate on its hinges.

i-tpparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said hand retaining means comprises a yoke adjustably mounted on said body.

(3. ln a device 'For promoting' digital dexteritya finger gripping member comprisingr a` body portion, a strip ot flexible material having,` its ends secured together withw nemesi in said body portion, forming a loop along one edge thereof. means on said body portion for drawing the ends of said strip Within said body to tighten said loop, and means for locking` said member in engaging; position.

"t". .ln apparatus for promoting` digital dexterity, a .linger gripping; member con'iprisino' a. body portion, a linger engaging' loop, a lever mounted on :aid body 'for tightening` said loop, and means ior locking said lever in predetermined positions.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said linger gripping member is provided with an auxiliary loop tightening means.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said linger gripping member is provided with a plurality oil means tor locking' the same Yin different positions on said apparatus.

l0. ln apparatus for promoting` digital 4dexterit f' a hand retaining yoke, a pawl and rat et arrangement in connection with said yoke, whereby the same is vertically adjustable on said apparatus, and means for adjusting said yoke longitudinally olf said apparatus.

ll. Apparatus as claimed in claim l0, wherein said means i'or longitudinally ad jill otally mounted on the body ot said apparatus` and in which said yoke is slidably mounted, and means for locking' said breekt-its in l'u'edetermined positions.

l2. ln apparatus lor promoting digital dezizterity, a pair ot brackets adjustably i'uouuted thereon, a, yoke having downwardly ending` legs slidable in said brackets, said legs being` provided with ratchet teeth, pawl members mounted on said brackets and adapted to engage said ratchet teeth. means ior disengaging said pawl trom said teeth,

and a spring lor maintaining an' upward pressure on said yoke.

i3. Apparatus as claimed in claim l?, wherein said ratchet teeth are formed in re.- cesses intermediate the side edges ot the leggs ot' said yoke, and said pawls extend within' said recesses.

lll. Apparatus as claimed in claimr l2, wherein said ratchet. teeth are termed in recesses intermediate the side edges ot the le, oi said yoker` and said pawls extend within raid recesses, said yoke legs being bent outwardly at their lower extremities to 'torni lugs.v covers adapted to iit on said brackets over said leas, a lug' in the upper portion ot each of said covers, said springs l'ieing` secured at their upper ends to said cover lugs and at their lower ends to said lesv lugs.

15. Apparatus as claimed in claimr l2, wherein said yoke is provided with a removable cushion.

1G, in apparatus for iln'omoting` digital derterity, a linger gripping member cem- :tue the' yoke consists in brackets pir! lltl prising a bodj7 portion, a strip of flexible material having;l its ends Secured together between two plates within said body portion, forming a loop along one en ge thereof, a lever pivoted on said body, operatively en raging Said plates and adapted to draw the saine downwardly to tighten said loop,

HARRY OSTR'OVSKY. 

